Begonia plant named ‘Dobegiclalu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Dobegiclalu’, characterized by its relatively compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; very dark brown-colored leaves; freely and continuously flowering habit; and large double-type flowers that are white in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOBEGICLALU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dobegiclalu’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact, freely branching and freely flowering Begonia plants with large and attractive flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the autumn of 2016 of Begonia hybrida ‘Dobegicposunris’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,126, as the female, or seed, parent with Begonia hybrida ‘I'CONIA First Kiss Hot Pink’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands during the spring of 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since the spring of 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dobegiclalu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dobegiclalu’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading and         mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Very dark brown-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and continuously flowering habit.     -   6. Large double-type flowers that are white in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Dobegicposunris’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Dobegicposunris’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Dobegicposunris’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia are dark brown in color         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Dobegicposunris’ are dark greyed         green in color.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are white in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Dobegicposunris’ are dark yellow         and orange red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘I'CONIA First Kiss Hot Pink’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘I'CONIA First Kiss Hot Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia are dark brown in color         whereas leaves of plants of ‘I'CONIA First Kiss Hot Pink’ are         dark green in color.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are white in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘I'CONIA First Kiss Hot Pink’ are         deep pink in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia hybrida ‘I'CONIA Bacio Peach’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘I'CONIA Bacio Peach’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are broader than plants of ‘I'CONIA         Bacio Peach’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia are darker brown in color         than leaves of plants of ‘I'CONIA Bacio Peach’.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘I'CONIA Bacio Peach’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are white in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘I'CONIA Bacio Peach’ are soft         yellow to peach in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dobegiclalu’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 25° C. and minium light level was 135 watt/m². Plants were twelve weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia hybrida ‘Dobegiclalu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Begonia hybrida ‘Dobegicposunris’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,126.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Begonia hybrida ‘I'CONIA First Kiss             Hot Pink’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 22 to 25             days at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 to 28             days at temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; whitish grey             in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to             form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Semi-upright to outwardly             spreading and mounded plant habit; relatively compact;             freely basal branching with about three primary lateral             branches each with about three secondary lateral branches;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 19             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 40 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter:             About 1 cm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture and             luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Aspect: Upright to outwardly             spreading. Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Color,             developing: Close to N144D; at the internodes, close to             144C. Color, developed: Close to 152B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 13.5 cm. Width: About 4.3 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly acute. Base: Oblique. Margin: Senate; sinuses             medium in depth and divergent. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Venation pattern:             Palmate; reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to 203D. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 187C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to 203D; venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 186A; venation, close to 145A.             Petioles: Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Color,             upper surface: Close to 148B to 148C. Color, lower surface:             Close to 148C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Double-type flowers arranged in axillary             cymes; freely flowering habit with typically about three             flowers per inflorescence and about 53 open flowers and             flower buds per plant at one time; flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the garden             plants flower freely and continuously from the late spring             throughout the summer in Northern Europe and can be flowered             year-round in greenhouses.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five weeks             on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.6 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 157C to 157D.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 7.2 cm by 7.4 cm. Depth             (height): About 2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically four             to five per flower arranged in a single whorl. Length: About             3.6 cm. Width: About 4.3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded             and emarginate. Base: Cuneate and truncate. Margin: Entire;             not undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 157B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 157C.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B;             venation, close to NN155B; color becoming closer to NN155C             with subsequent development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically 32             per flower arranged in about six whorls. Length: About 3 cm.             Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to             157B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 157C. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; venation,             close to NN155B; color does not change with subsequent             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically two             to five per flower arranged in a single whorl. Length: About             3.5 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded and             emarginate. Base: Cuneate and truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 157B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to NN155B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect:             Semi-upright. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 152C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect:             Upright to outwardly. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity of stamens per             flower: About three. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament             color: Close to 17A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther             shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to N144C. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 157A. Pistils: Quantity of             pistils per flower: Three. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style             length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to 15A. Stigma             diameter: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Curled, bi-lobed. Stigma             color: Close to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145B. Fruits and             seeds: To date, fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and     pests common to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of     the new Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 10° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Dobegiclalu’ as illustrated and described. 